Ram Gopal Varma: 'Sanjay Dutt forced me to drop Kangana from film'

Ram Gopal Varma has claimed that Sanjay Dutt made him drop Kangana Ranaut from Department.

The director has criticized the veteran action star following the film's critical panning and failure at the box office.

He told The Times of India: "[Producer] Dharam Oberoi told me Sanjay wanted Kangana to be dropped and since it's a predominantly male-dominated action film, I didn't want to make an issue.

"The problems were innumerable, ranging from Dutt's coming late, to last-minute cancellation of shoots and schedules, to erratically wanting to change the content of scenes in the name of creative discussions that are not to be confused with mindless interference.

Sanjay Dutt

"Aamir [Khan] and me had creative differences during Rangeela but I didn't pay heed to the mistakes he pointed out. Despite Rangeela becoming a blockbuster, when I saw the film much later, I felt I had gotten away with the mistakes that he had pointed out. I genuinely believe Rangeela would have been a bigger hit had I listened to Aamir.

"The difference being Aamir's suggestions and observations came from a long and intense deliberation on his part and not like Dutt who was blurting out without thinking, encouraged by the likes of Dharam who pander to him for their personal benefits."

He added: "I am not blaming anyone except myself. The biggest mistake I made was to go to an actor as unprofessional and as unimaginably erratic as Dutt."